This thesis describes the investigation of methodologies towards the synthesis and
purification of 5-, 6- and 7- membered guanidine heterocycles. Methods include
intemlolecular epoxide ring opening reactions using guanidine and the intramolecular
cyclization reactions of N-Boc-allylguanidines and N-Boc-homoallylguanidines in both
epoxide ring opening reactions and palladium mediated cyclisations. The possible utility of
these heterocycles as glycosidase inhibitors was investigated using enzymatic assays.